Going out of town for four/ five days

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 15sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by MimzMum.

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- 05/30/2010 at 6:15 PM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  So….now that we’re really making bonding progress I have to go out of town for four or five days. They’re sooooo close to being bonded! (They’re in love and it’s adorable! If I wasn’t going out of town in a few days I’d probably begin cementing.) How much of a setback will not having them see each other for four or five days cause?
- 05/31/2010 at 2:20 AM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  My mom is really trying to push me to just let them stay in the x-pen together for those days that I’m gone instead of separating them. xD I have to admit I’m kind of tempted….the reasoning is sound and they would probably have less separation anxiety from me and they obviously wouldn’t have separation anxiety from each other.
  
  What do you guys think? >< Is this feasible? I sure would like to be there during their first few solid days together but I want to do what's best for them.
- 05/31/2010 at 3:36 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  grr, my post disappeared!
  Will you be around for the 1st night/day if you do decide to start cementing? If so it seems worth doing. Be good to come home and it’s all done. You’ve tried them in a non netural zone haven’t you – and they did well? If you don’t want to do the cementing option, perhaps your Mom can give them supervised play in a living room while you’re away.
- 05/31/2010 at 3:52 AM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  I would have one night to test it out with them, yes. I haven’t brought them into each others’ territory yet – just the small hallway between their two rooms which I figured had enough of their scents in it to be semi-neutral. This is the space they would be in if I decided to leave them together for the five days. I might enlarge it a bit and probably throw in some hutches and willow tents.
  
  Also I should probably make it clear that no one will be in the house while I’m gone. I have a really good pet sitter who will be coming in twice a day to take care of them but other than that no one will be there to supervise them. My mom is coming with me because the trip is in order to attend my orientation at UCF. (And look for apartments!) And they have a separate parents’ orientation as well. Though I’ve seen absolutely zero signs of aggression between them and an amazing amount of tolerance for each others’ antics. The worse that really happens is that they may accidentally run into each other doing binkies and 500’s every once in a while.
- 05/31/2010 at 9:55 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I would also be tempted to leave them together… but with no one else in the house… I just don’t know if I’d risk it… just in case.
  
  How are they housed right now? Are they in pens sharing the same wall? I would have it where they can snuggle against the pen and have full body contact, but still be in a separate space. At the worst, they may back track a little, but it can be overcome.
- 05/31/2010 at 3:42 PM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  Oops! I already have them all set up for a trial night tonight. 😡 I think I’ll see how they are tonight and take it from there. If they don’t have any issues do you guys really think it would be risky to leave them?
- 05/31/2010 at 11:34 PM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  What are everyone’s thoughts?
- 06/01/2010 at 6:09 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Did you do the overnight with them? I’m just worried about if they do get into a scuffle, and no one is there… then the bun-sitter comes the next day… and if SHE doesn’t know what she’s looking for, something might be overlooked. This is only my opinion. Do what you are comfortable doing.
- 06/01/2010 at 9:23 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Posted By Binkles on 05/31/2010 03:52 AM
  I haven’t brought them into each others’ territory yet (…)
  
  Also I should probably make it clear that no one will be in the house while I’m gone. (…)
  
  The worse that really happens is that they may accidentally run into each other doing binkies and 500’s every once in a while.
  
  I wouldn’t keep them together. Why take the risk? Rabbits rearrange their relationships every time they get put into a new situation or space. If I move my quartet to a new situation, there are always little turbulences. If your rabbits are going to be alone especially, it’s too risky as there would be nobody to take them into the vet in case of an injury.
- 06/01/2010 at 11:03 AM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  Oh I still wouldn’t be bringing them into each others’ territory yet. They’d be staying in the semi-neutral area they’ve been in for the past two weeks, so I don’t think it’s really a new situation? The only thing really new about it is that they’d be spending a prolonged amount of time with each other.
  
  Anyway they did well in their overnight trial run last night. No scuffles or anything. This is the longest they’ve been together so far – a solid 24 hours now. I really don’t think either of them are capable of aggression, but that’s just what I’ve observed.
  
  I have about an hour before I leave to decide. You guys still think it’s too risky?
- 06/01/2010 at 11:07 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  I know how you are Binkles. You are a bit of a “worrywart” (like a lot of us are!) Keep them separate while you’re gone, but have them set-up so they share a common wall and can still have snuggle time, but they are not actually caged together.
  
  Bunnies aside… I would worry that you’d spend your whole trip worried sick about what was going on at the house and you wouldn’t be able to enjoy yourself.
- 06/01/2010 at 11:19 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  It’s just that they should be supervised during this time, so I would keep them apart. I have moved in rabbits for cementing and after several days of housing together a huge fight broke out. Granted they were a hard bond to begin with, but why chance it?
- 06/01/2010 at 12:17 PM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  Gahhh they’re snuggling in their willow tent! Ugh this is so hard! xD Okaaayyy. I’ll separate them. Jeez I feel like a douche for setting them all up and then taking them away from each other. I’ll never hear the end of it from Peter.
- 06/01/2010 at 12:20 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  It’ll be fine! You’re not going to be gone that long…
- 06/01/2010 at 2:30 PM
  Binkles
  Participant
  823 posts
  I knowwww but I still feel like a douche. And Peter was so frustrated with me. He sat there shaking the bars of his enclosure for like five minutes after I put him back in. xD
- 06/01/2010 at 9:40 PM
  MimzMum
  Participant
  8029 posts
  Sarah, I spent an entire year putting Mimzy and Pip together and then separating them at night. I have every confidence that if I put them together again, even after a year of being completely separated due to Mimzy’s sinus problems, that they would be thick as thieves within a few hours and probably inseparable. Try not to worry that the bond will be broken in that time, I kind of think not.
  
  Really, it is not worth the risk if there is no one there to supervise them.
  Besides, if he’s that crazy about her, he’ll be thrilled to get back to her once you’ve returned.
  
  So the bunnies are going to be completely alone for 4-5 days? Is someone coming in to feed/clean them? I didn’t see that in your first post to this thread.
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